Chris Jericho will be facing Kenny Omega on January 4, 2018 at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 12 in the Tokyo Dome.

This was announced after Omega defeated Trent Barreta at today’s Power Struggle event and called out his next challenger. Nobody came out to accept the challenge, so Omega began to leave. However, a video started playing on the tron, and Jericho appeared. You can watch this video in the tweet below from @MrLARIATO.

Jericho said that wrestlers like Edge and CM Punk have called themselves the “Best in the World”, but they’re not because they’re not around anymore and Jericho is. Jericho called himself the “Alpha” of the business and said at Wrestle Kingdom 12, it’s going to be Alpha vs. Omega.

Jericho and Omega have engaged in a Twitter feud in recent weeks, which was likely just a work to build this up.

The particulars of Jericho working with NJPW are not yet known. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Additional Notes By John Canton:

Both guys are from Winnipeg, so there’s a connection there and they are likely friends as well.

Jericho doesn’t have a contract with WWE. His last deal was more of a handshake agreement that extended past WrestleMania this year so he could put over Kevin Owens again. Jericho has focused on his Fozzy music group for the second half of the year.

I think it’s a great thing and it’s smart for Jericho because he’s going to be 47 this month and the clock is ticking on his career. As great as he is, he can’t wrestle forever. Since Omega may never go to WWE (he’s really happy where he is right now), this may be the best opportunity to do a dream match like this. I doubt WWE is going to be mad about it either and if they are, it’s not like they have a say in it since Jericho’s free to do as he wants.

What’s interesting to note also is that Jericho has prided himself on only wrestling for WWE since he started there in 1999. This is his first non-WWE match since then.

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